H.C.R. No. 177
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The passing of Dr. John Larry Walker on October 6,
2004, at the age of 64, brought a great loss to all those who knew
and loved this esteemed Paris physician; and
WHEREAS, Born on February 14, 1940, in Blossom, Dr. Walker
was Blossom High School valedictorian and earned a basketball
scholarship to Tyler Junior College, where he was a member of the
Phi Theta Kappa honor society and received the Watson Wise trophy
for distinguished service; he went on to graduate cum laude from
Austin College and then attended The University of Texas
Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, graduating in 1966 and
earning the Alumni Association Scholarship award; and
WHEREAS, He served this nation as a captain in the U.S. Air
Force at Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, and with a Red Horse
engineering unit in Thailand during the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, In 1969, he began his medical practice in Paris and
became one of the city's most distinguished physicians over the
course of his nearly 40 years of service as a practitioner of
general medicine and as chief of staff at St. Joseph's Hospital; and
WHEREAS, A dynamic presence in the medical field, Dr. Walker
demonstrated outstanding leadership and judgment as president of
the Lamar-Delta Medical Society and as a delegate to the Texas
Medical Association; in addition, he maintained membership in the
Paris Family Physicians group and was certified by the American
Board of Family Practice; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Walker also devoted his time and energy to a
number of worthy civic organizations, serving on the founding
boards of Lamar County Young Life, the Paris Education Foundation,
and the Lamar National Bank and as director of the Lamar County
Chamber of Commerce, as a member of the Rotary Club, and as a
volunteer physician at Agape House; and
WHEREAS, He was a valued congregant at the First United
Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school classes, served on
the administrative board and the finance committee, and was a
member of the Methodist Men and the chancel choir; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Walker was a man of compassion and
understanding; although his warmth and wisdom are gone from us now,
his remarkable spirit will surely live on in the hearts of the many
people whose lives he touched during his time on this earth; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby honor the life of Dr. John Larry Walker and extend deepest
sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife of more than four
decades, Ginna Walker; to his daughters, Callie Walker Thompson and
her husband, Bobby, and Jennifer Walker McDonald and her husband,
Don; to his son, Steve Walker and his wife, Christie; to his
grandchildren, Matt and Lauren Thompson and Sarah Kathryn and
Elizabeth Walker; to his mother, Allene Walker; to his brothers,
Mike Walker and his wife, Marty, and Tim Walker and his wife, Karen;
and to the many other friends and relatives of this beloved
gentleman; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of
Dr. John Larry Walker.
Homer
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 177 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 20, 2005.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 177 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the Senate on May 20, 2005.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor